[nitrogen]

+1 for non-monetary/intangible benefits. Even my ancient (early 90s) 3 series is an amazing drive, and well worth the disintegrating door panels and various other problems. I've driven a variety of cars, old and new, and this is my favorite so far.

There are some products that, because of attention to detail or other design features, are a pleasure to use, even if their performance on paper is worse.

[elblanco]

Disintegrating parts of a car does not speak to "attention to detail". :)

But I agree, there is sometimes a visceral, non-quantifiable "feel" to a product that makes it worth using. My favorite car was my late 70's Mercury. Stupid big, ate gas like there was a hole in the tank, small tasks like getting out of the driveway had lots of engine drama. But man it drove like a dream.